Without a good hood, the front element is going to get all wet and potentially ruin the shot — even if the rain doesn't get inside.

People scoff at the beer-stein-sized hood on the 50-200SWD… but there's never a rain drop that gets on THAT lens element.

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Barry

I agree a hood is helpful, but if it's not windy, keep it pointed down when not shooting and you're usually ok. This has worked with the 12-50 so far. With my 40-150, I put a plastic bag over the barrel + the hood and it does ok. But to me the big thing about weathersealing is unexpected water, such as big wave, or a gust in heavy rain. Having lost an OM-2 and a bag full of lenses in a matter of seconds years ago, I know how fast a wave can catch you off-guard. I suspect the body and mounted lens would have survived if it were an E-M5 and 12-50 today, but I don't know about the unmounted lenses.